Phil Tripp cat killer sentence appeal outcome decided by court

A man who drowned a family’s cat in a bin before posting images of the cruelty online has lost a bid to be reunited with his own beloved pet. Here’s his reaction.

The bird who found itself at the centre of the infamous Coffs Harbour cat killer case will remain in the hands of a Sydney-based carer.

It comes after its cat-killing owner Phil Tripp lodged a court appeal to have the severity of his sentence, which was imposed for drowning a family’s pet cat in a bin, reduced.

Tripp, 71, had owned Jackson the eclectus parrot for more than 20 years and considered it his companion animal.

But he was banned from owning a pet for five years when he was sentenced last year after pleading guilty to animal cruelty in a bizarre case that caused outrage in sections of the community.

At various stages of the case protesters with signs calling for “justice for Mango” have appeared outside Coffs Harbour court.

Protesters stood outside Coffs courthouse ahead of Phil Tripp's sentencing late last year.

The case was launched in July last year after photos were shared on social media showing a cat, later identified by its owners as Mango, in a metal cage, before it was drowned in a garbage bin.

Tripp was arrested and charged with torture, beat etc and cause death of animal.

The police prosecutor urged the magistrate during sentence to send Tripp to jail but he avoided a custodial sentence and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

His conviction on animal cruelty meant he was unable to own a pet for five years and this put his ownership of Jackson in jeopardy.

This formed the basis of his appeal heard before Judge Jonathon Priestly.

Tripp’s defence lawyer Carlo Bianchino presented a report from avian veterinarian Rob Marshall, who said it would be impossible to replicate the complex bond between Mr Tripp and Jackson and that the bird would suffer due to the separation.

Tripp had already made moves after his conviction to put Jackson in the hands of a Sydney-based carer who had looked after him in the past.

Now, with his conviction upheld, this is likely to become a long term arrangement.

Tripp is unsure if he will be allowed visits.

The severity of his sentence was reduced from an intensive corrections order to a less restrictive 12-month community corrections order.

Phil Tripp, pictured in 2005, was the publisher of Urban Animal magazine. Picture: Elizabeth Hanna

“I am sad at the outcome but Jackson is already in care with a woman who has taken care of him 15 times before,” Tripp said.

“She loves him, showers him with attention, plays with and stimulates him all day and is expert in his complex dietary needs.

“I will have to wait a long time to be reunited with him but I also deserved punishment. And this outcome I believe is the best of both worlds.”

During the appeal Mango’s owner acknowledged that Tripp was remorseful for his actions and, speaking after the outcome of the appeal, he echoed those sentiments.

“I am ashamed of what I did, have great remorse and my life was pretty much destroyed for months in the process,” Tripp said.

“When what I did hit the news in a sensational way, I started receiving over 150 death threats by phone, text and email before I changed the number and account.”

He said the process had renewed his respect for the criminal justice system.

“For one, I have been amazed by the way the police and courts have treated me in this stupid crime,” he said.

“My District Court judge in the appeal was informed, fair, considerate and tried to balance the punishment to the crime and the laws.

“It was no easy job and he also had to balance the community’s perspective.”